sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bridgette Gordon, Holly Warlick, Ivory Latta, Pat Summitt, Sidney Spencer

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 337

By Naifeh

A RESOLUTION to honor Coach Pat Head Summitt and the 2007 NCAA Women’s Champions, the Lady Volunteers.

WHEREAS, in a spirited display of athleticism and teamwork, the University of

Tennessee Lady Vols once again reign supreme as they captured the coveted 2007 NCAA

Women's Basketball Championship, soundly defeating Rutgers University, 59-46; and

WHEREAS, led by Coach , the preeminent basketball coach in all of women's , the Lady Vols further etched their place in college basketball lore with the victory over the Scarlet Knights before a capacity crowd of mostly orange-clad faithful in

Cleveland; and

WHEREAS, with the melodious sound of resonating throughout Big Orange

Land, the jubilant Lady Vols and their fervent followers celebrated amidst a sea of confetti as the team reached the pinnacle of women's college basketball; and

WHEREAS, challenged by Coach Summitt in her pre-game talk to win for the throngs of faithful Lady Vol followers, the team responded in typical fashion by dominating Rutgers from the game's outset, firmly establishing Tennessee as the most successful basketball program in the history of women's intercollegiate athletics; and

WHEREAS, confetti wasn't the only thing falling on Rutgers in Cleveland, as diminutive connected on a flurry of 3-point shots enroute to a stellar 13-point effort; her suffocating defense against a demoralized and the North Carolina Tar

Heels in a hard fought semi-final game enabled the Lady Vols to reach the title game for the fourth time since 2000; and

WHEREAS, Wade Trophy award winner Candice Parker solidified her status as the nation's top player with a sterling 17-point performance against Rutgers, hitting six consecutive

HJR0337 00574432 -1-

free throws in the final minutes of the game as Tennessee pulled away down the stretch to win the seventh national championship in team history; and

WHEREAS, Candice was deservedly named the Final Four Most Valuable Player for her efforts, and has now scored in double figures in every NCAA Tournament game in which she has played; and

WHEREAS, dominated the boards with 16 rebounds and was clearly the catalyst for a crucial 22-10 edge in second chance points as the Lady Vols brutalized the Scarlet

Knights under the basket; and

WHEREAS, Parker, Anosike and Bobbitt made the all-tournament team for their outstanding play and, in so doing, more than lived up to the promises they made in the "Lady

Vols Pact"; their names, and the rest of the team members', will be permanently etched into

Tennessee's record books alongside such former greats as , Tamika

Catchings and , to name a few, and their championship banner will permanently hang in the rafters overlooking "The Summitt"; and

WHEREAS, senior sharp shooter led all scorers with nine points in the first half of the championship game, thus completing an outstanding career as a Lady Vol.

Sidney had 73 starts in 133 games played, amassed 1,088 points, and pulled 501 rebounds; she ranks fourth in the UT record books in three-point field goals, is fifth in three-point shooting accuracy, and is second in shooting percentage; and

WHEREAS, athletic guard also contributed mightily to the championship effort with her versatility, relentless defensive pressure, and rebounding at crucial times throughout the tournament; and

WHEREAS, other team members who contributed immeasurably to the success of the

2007 Champion Lady Vols include: seniors, Dominique Redding and Elizabeth Curry; sophomore, Alex Fuller; and freshmen, Cait McMahan and Nicci Moats; and

WHEREAS, in the first round of NCAA Tournament action against Drake University, the

Lady Vols defeated the Bulldogs, 76-37; Alexis Hornbuckle led a late surge in the first half and

UT broke open a tight game with a 34-0 run in the second half, leading Drake Coach Amy

Stephens to say, "The sleeping giant awoke at halftime"; and - 2 - 00574432

WHEREAS, against the University of Pittsburgh in second round action, Candice Parker tallied 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Lady Vols to a 68-54 win against the Panthers and the school's 26 th consecutive "Sweet 16" appearance; and

WHEREAS, Candice was again at her best in the third round game against Marist as she hit her first eight shots and top-seeded Tennessee ended the Red Foxes' inspiring, yet short-lived tournament run with a 65-46 victory in the Dayton Regional semifinals; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Vols next met foe Ole Miss with a trip to the Final Four on the line, and again rolled to victory as Candice Parker led the way with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Sidney Spencer had 16 of her 22 points in the second half, Shannon

Bobbitt finished with 14 points, including 10 of Tennessee's first 24 in a fast start, and Alberta

Auguste added 12 points; and

WHEREAS, in Final Four semifinal play against the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Lady

Vols' patented transition game, quickness, defensive intensity, and sheer will to win enabled them to rise to their greatest challenge of the year as the team set a Final Four record with 20 steals; following an impassioned "directive" from Coach Summitt that "we're not leaving here without a national championship," the Lady Vols outscored the Tar Heels 20-2 in the last eight minutes of the game for the win; Candice Parker and Nicky Anosike scored 14 points as the

Lady Vols demonstrated to Latta & Company that they, like Tar Heel fans before the game, were ready TOO; and

WHEREAS, in the title game against Rutgers and her longtime friend, Coach C. Vivian

Stringer, Coach Summitt and the Lady Vols cruised to victory as the Scarlet Knights had no answer for Tennessee's relentless defense and pinpoint shooting; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Vols’ aggressive, attacking game, marked by both speed and athleticism, has continued to set the standard for women’s basketball; the team completed the

2006-2007 season with an enviable 34-3 record; and

WHEREAS, Pat Summitt has amassed a remarkable 947-180 record in 33 years at the helm of the Lady Vols; she has the highest winning percentage in NCAA tournament history at

98-19 (.838), and owns the marks for most tournament wins, most games coached, and most tournament appearances (26); she has more Women's Final Four wins (19), Final Four - 3 - 00574432

appearances (17) and NCAA titles (7) than any other women's coach in history, and fittingly celebrated the 20 th anniversary of her first national championship with yet another crown; and

WHEREAS, Coach Summitt is especially grateful for the support of her adroit staff, including Associate , Assistant Coaches Nikki Caldwell and Dean

Lockwood, Video Coordinator Angel Elderkin, and a host of team managers, all of whom have played an integral role in developing this team into championship caliber; and

WHEREAS, those also deserving of this body’s commendation for their unflagging support of Coach Summitt and the team include the Women’s Athletic

Director Joan Cronan; Director of Basketball Operations Danielle Donehew; Associate Athletics

Director for Media Relations Debby Jennings, Director of Public Relations Tiffany Carpenter;

Assistant Media Relations Directors Eric Trainer and Brian Davis and student assistants; Team

Physician, Becky Morgan; Associate Athletic Trainer Chris Hofmann; Assistant Athletic Trainers

Catherine Johnson and Amanda Shields; and Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine

Jenny Moshak and assistants; and

WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly and Lady Vol fans everywhere take great delight in honoring this extraordinary group of young women who have contributed mightily to the successful legacy of University of Tennessee Women's Basketball; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED

FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE

CONCURRING, That we honor Coach Pat Head Summitt and the University of Tennessee Lady

Volunteers for winning the 2007 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship and extend to them our best wishes for every future success both on and off the court.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That appropriate copies of this resolution be prepared for presentation to each of the above-named persons with this final clause omitted from such copies.

- 4 - 00574432